Loud and proud, Socialist Zohran Mamdani has won the mayor’s office in the largest city in the United States – New York City.
With 50.4% of the vote, Mamdani defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo (41.6%) and Republican Curtis Sliwa (7.1%). Current Mayor Eric Adams still received 6,382 votes (0.3%) despite dropping out of the race and endorsing Cuomo.
More than two million voters (2,043,565) cast ballots in the election, in a city with 5,126,009 registered voters. This marks the first election since 1969 in which more than two million New Yorkers turned out to vote.
Mamdani ran as an unabashed Socialist, proudly displaying his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). He campaigned on enthusiasm, charisma, and promises of “free” programs for New Yorkers.
NYS Minority Leader Senator Rob Ortt (R) said, “If New Yorkers were worried about the future of our state before this election, they should be nothing short of alarmed at the thought of socialist Zohran Mamdani as the new Mayor of New York City. Without doubt, Mamdani’s takeover will plunge this already unaffordable, dangerous state ever closer to being unlivable. Now, more than ever, we need to restore balance and common sense to state government. The future of our state depends on it.”
Mamdani’s promises include free buses at a taxpayer cost of more than $800 million per year; rent freezes that critics say will worsen the housing crisis; government-run grocery stores in every borough—despite this model failing in Democrat-run Kansas City and throughout all of history; universal child care across the city at an unknown cost; and an additional 2% tax on anyone earning $1 million or more annually. This group already pays roughly 52% of their income in taxes. Mamdani has also vowed to increase taxes on New York’s already heavily burdened businesses.